Agenda and minutes

Councillor Reid declared a prejudicial and personal interest in agenda item 6 as he was friends with the applicant.

These must be received no later than 12 noon on the fourth working day before the date of the meeting

None received

Resolved that the minutes of the meeting held on 7 June 2013 be agreed and signed as an accurate record.

None

None

Mr David Keffler

Councillor Reid retired from the Chamber at 14:35 due to his declaration of interest.

Louis Krog, Business Support and Licensing Team Leader introduced the report as circulated with the agenda.  An application for a Private Hire vehicle licence had been received from Mr Keffler to licence a BMW X5 first registered on 23 April 2004.

The vehicle, being registered as new in 2004, is older than the maximum permitted age limit of 5 years for date of manufacture.

Appendix A of the report showed a picture of Mr Keffler with Pierce Brosnan who he chauffeured around the Cotswolds.

Appendix B of the report showed a reference from Mr Ian Coley

Appendix C of the report provided a photograph of the vehicle.

Appendix D of the report showed a copy of the certificate of compliance.

Louis Krog advised Members that Cheltenham Borough Council does not have a policy on maximum mileage for vehicles and this part of Mr Keffler’s statement was irrelevant.  

Louis Krog also told Members that Mr Keffler’s point in his statement about the vehicle being un-economic because it would not be on the road 8 hours a day most days of the week and it would only attract tax relief of 8% was also not relevant.  The policy looked at suitability and safety of the vehicle.

Mr Keffler attended the meeting and spoke in support of this application.  Mr Keffler detailed his statement shown at point 3.1 of the report.

Members asked the following questions:

• When asked, Mr Keffler confirmed this application was for an additional vehicle to his already licensed Bentley.  Mr Keffler advised the Committee that he did not envisage licensing any more vehicles as he would be driving the vehicles himself.
• When asked, Mr Keffler stated that he also worked as a chartered accountant.
• A Member referred to Mr Keffler’s statement and asked how this application helped the local economy.
• Mr Keffler said that his currently licensed Bentley provided an unusual vehicle to customers.  He wanted to extend his service to various luxury hotels to enable customers to be driven in a 4 wheel drive vehicle.  Mr Keffler referred Members to the reference provided by Mr Coley at appendix B of the report.  This additional vehicle would provide a unique selling point for these sorts of establishments.
• When asked, Mr Keffler confirmed he used either vehicle for journeys once a day.
• A Member sought clarification about the photograph of the BMW at appendix C of the report.
• Mr Keffler confirmed the photograph was taken from the BMW website and was not the actual vehicle.  Mr Keffler stressed that his BMW was the same type of vehicle to the photograph and apologised for not providing a real life photograph.  He said the vehicle had been inspected and it was in immaculate condition.
• A Member reminded Members that the need today was to concentrate on the age of the vehicle and asked if the vehicle had passed all its tests.
• Mr Keffler confirmed it had passed  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

None

26 July 2013

26 July 2013